This report summarizes the evolution of the Luos project during the period of Phase 1 of SME Instrument, as part of Horizon 2020, the European innovation program for research and development.
Context
Pollen Robotics is a R&D, robotics and AI SME company created in 2016. The four co-founders come from the research institute Inria in Bordeaux, France. Pollen Robotics is hosting a project called Luos, aiming to develop a robotic modular architecture in order to ease robotic development. The technology si patented.
SME Instrument is meant to help and support the development of the Luos project.
Problem being addressed
Robotic development is too expensive, too long and too complex to let a real revolution happen in the global industry of robotics. Developing a robot today still takes years and costs millions. There is a need for robot developers to evolve to follow the robotics market future growth needs.
Proposed solution
The solution is to reduce many of the development difficulties, to simplify it and to make it accessible to any company related to robotics. Luos develops a modular set of compact electronic boards called modules, allowing fast prototyping and industrializing for robotic devices. It offers innovative and disruptive ways for robotic development.
It addresses to robotics companies wishing to develop robotic projects cheaper, faster and easier, without creating every new product from scratch. They will be able to accelerate the processes and loops of prototyping, industrializing and producing, and improve the life, maintenance and repair time of their robotic devices.
Why is it important for society?
Throughout history, a phenomenon of standardization occurred (brought by the normalization) in each big technological market (automotive, aeronautics, computers, etc.). Standardization will give to robotics a worldwide growth acceleration, because it brings benefits to the industry, shorting the cost and time, and rationalizing the development and production.
To respond to the extreme diversity of robots, the standards of robotics must be flexible and modular.
Our technology will allow robotics to move on the next step of its evolution.
Change of model
Robotics companies are basing their work on a vertical model: the development of robotic products in one block with one company only, resulting in many robotics project failures.
The other industries have developed an horizontal model, using several suppliers to build a single product, and allowing reduction of development time and cost.
This model brings concepts like modularity (re-use of existing parts for new products). Horizontal model is critical for robotic development.
(See figure 01)
Why is it important for the company?
As Luos system was made for our needs of robotic development for other companies, it became today so game-changer that it should become whole business. Pollen Robotics aims to ease robotic development worldwide through Luos, becoming a whole system that fully orchestrates robots.
Target, overall objectives
The general goal is to enable more companies to develop robotic products, and to enable a robotics revolution that reaches a wide range of new markets.
Luos aims to become the leading worldwide provider of robotic system architectures.
Luos products acquire through SME Instrument Phase 1 enough stability to be sold to customers for robots development.
The vision and strategy must grow as well in order to get the Luos project on tracks towards being a reliable and leading robotic solution.
The overall objectives are divided in four parts:
1 - Correct product’s bugs and develop new modules
2 - Acquire new customers to secure revenue
3 - Develop our vision, business model and strategy
4 - Find a sustainable investment for proper growth
These four stages are described in the technical report.
